A pledge of at least $1000.00 a year has been received to support an educational grant to honor the memory of Dan Rigel who ran Caveman Lapidary along with his wife, Hope. Dan passed away from a heart attack on March 8, 2010 after a lifetime of rock hounding and running a very successful and prominent lapidary and fossil business. The Dan Rigel Memorial Educational Grant will be given to a High School teacher(s) or High School educator to promote the education of their students in geology and paleontology.

The grant money is to be used to sponsor collecting trips for students or to buy rock/mineral/fossil specimens for educational purposes. The $1000 Grant may be split into two, three or four grants per year at the discretion of the AAPS Board. Applicants need to write a letter stating how they propose to use the grant. The awardee(s) will be selected based upon need and the proposed use of funds. Following the award of this grant, awardees will be asked to provide photos of the students on trips or the student's use of the fossils in the classroom. AAPS would also like to recieve letters from students and educator(s) expressing their appreciation. AAPS also requests permission to use some of the letters and photographs on our web site to help promote the grant. If any money is left over, AAPS requests that it be returned so that it can continue to be used in the manner it was intended for.

Applications need to be in our scholarship office by Dec. 1 to be considered by the Board. Because of the great educational opportunities, AAPS would like to see donations to this fund increase throughout the year. AAPS will strive to distribute whatever money is donated to this grant on an annual basis. Money specifically donated to this Grant cannot go into the general fund. AAPS thanks all of the donors to this grant and we look forward to helping educate our young people in the wonder and beauty of rocks and fossils.

You may send your application to:

Neal Larson, Scholarship and Grant Chairperson
ammoniteguy@gmail.com
C/O Larson Paleontology
P.O. Box 1313
Hill City, SD 57745